Flexible plastic tie

Abstract

A flexible plastic tie molded from a plastic having a durometer of from 60 to 95 has an elongated spine with a plurality of rod-like projections attached to the spine. The projections are arranged in spaced apart pairs such that each pair of projections is co-linear and there is a selected distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections. A fastening head is attached to one end of the spine. There is a generally rectangular slot passing through the fastening head. The slot has a width not less than the width of the spine and less than the selected distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections, such that the slot and the outside surface define a wall encircling the slot. The projections have a height of greater than 1 mm.

We claim:  
     
       1. A flexible plastic tie comprising: 
       a. an elongated spine of a selected width and a selected length having a first end and a second end;  
       b. a plurality of projections attached to the spine, the projections having a height greater than 1 mm and arranged in spaced apart pairs such that each pair of projections is co-linear and there is a selected distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections, the selected distance being substantially the same for all pairs of projections; and  
       c. a fastening head attached to one end of the spine, the fastening head having a top surface, a bottom surface and outside surfaces extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the fastening head having a slot passing through the fastening head, the slot having a width not less than the width of the spine and less than the selected distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections, the slot further having a length not less than the distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections such that the slot and the outside surface define a wall encircling the slot,  
       wherein the elongated spine, projections and fastening head are integrally molded from a plastic having a durometer of from 60 to 95 and in a configuration in which the elongated spine is folded into a U-shape.  
     
     
       2. The flexible plastic tie as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the elongated spine, plurality of projections and the fastening head are made from a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and polyurethane. 
     
     
       3. The flexible plastic tie as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the elongated spine, plurality of projections and the fastening head are made from a clear plastic material. 
     
     
       4. The flexible plastic tie as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the wall has at least one seat positioned on the top surface or the bottom surface of the head, the slot sized to receive one of the pairs of projections while a portion of the spine is within the slot. 
     
     
       5. A flexible plastic tie comprising: 
       a. an elongated spine of a selected width and a selected length having a first end and a second end;  
       b. a plurality of projections attached to the spine, the projections having a height greater than 1 mm and arranged in spaced apart pairs such that each pair of projections is co-linear and there is a selected distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections, the selected distance being substantially the same for all pairs of projections; and  
       c. a fastening head attached to one end of the spine, the fastening head having a top surface, a bottom surface and outside surfaces extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the fastening head having a slot passing through the fastening head, the slot having a width not less than the width of the spine and less than the selected distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections, the slot further having a length not less than the distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections such that the slot and the outside surface define a wall encircling the slot, the wall having at least one seat positioned on the top surface or the bottom surface of the head, the slot sized to receive one of the pairs of projections while a portion of the spine is within the slot  
       wherein the elongated spine, projections and fastening head are integrally molded from a plastic having a durometer of from 60 to 95 and wherein the projections and the seat have triangular cross-sections.  
     
     
       6. The flexible plastic tie as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the projections and the seat have rectangular cross-sections. 
     
     
       7. A flexible plastic tie comprising: 
       a. an elongated spine of a selected width and a selected length having a first end and a second end;  
       b. a plurality of hemispherical projections attached to the spine, the projections having a height greater than 1 mm and arranged in spaced apart pairs such that each pair of projections is co-linear and there is a selected distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections, the selected distance being substantially the same for all pairs of projections; and  
       c. a fastening head attached to one end of the spine, the fastening head having a top surface, a bottom surface and outside surfaces extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the fastening head having a slot passing through the fastening head, the slot having a width not less than the width of the spine and less than the selected distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections, the slot further having a length not less than the distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections such that the slot and the outside surface define a wall encircling the slot,  
       wherein the elongated spine, projections and fastening head are integrally molded from a plastic having a durometer of from 60 to 95.  
     
     
       8. The flexible plastic tie as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the spine has a point between two adjacent pairs of the projections and those two adjacent pairs of projections are spaced apart a first distance and there is a second distance different from the first distance between all other adjacent pairs of projections. 
     
     
       9. The flexible plastic tie as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the first distance is 12 mm and the second distance is 10 mm. 
     
     
       10. The flexible tie as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the selected distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections is twice the width of the spine. 
     
     
       11. The flexible tie of  claim 10  wherein the selected distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections is 6 mm and the width of the spine is 3 mm. 
     
     
       12. The flexible tie of  claim 1  wherein the wall encircling the slot has a greater thickness at locations adjacent opposite ends of the slot than at locations adjacent opposite sides of the slot. 
     
     
       13. The flexible tie of  claim 12  wherein the wall has a thickness of 1.5 mm adjacent the ends of the slot and a thickness of at least 2 mm adjacent the sides of the slot. 
     
     
       14. The flexible tie of  claim 1  wherein the slot has a length of 7 mm and a width of 3 mm. 
     
     
       15. The flexible tie of  claim 1  wherein the tie is polyvinyl chloride of 75 durometer and the wall encircling the slot has a thickness of at least 1.5 mm and a height of at least 4 mm. 
     
     
       16. The tie of  claim 1  wherein adjacent pairs of projections are spaced apart from one another and the two adjacent pairs of projections nearest that portion of the spine which is folded are spaced apart a distance which is greater than all distances between any other two pairs of adjacent projections. 
     
     
       17. The tie of  claim 1  wherein the slot is generally rectangular. 
     
     
       18. A flexible plastic tie comprising: 
       a. an elongated spine of a selected width and a selected length having a first end and a second end;  
       b. a plurality of rod-like projections, each projection having a hemispherical distal end and attached to the spine, the projections having a height greater than 1 mm and arranged in spaced apart pairs such that each pair of projections is co-linear and there is a selected distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections, the selected distance being substantially the same for all pairs of projections; and  
       c. a fastening head attached to one end of the spine, the fastening head having a top surface, a bottom surface and outside surfaces extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the fastening head having a generally rectangular slot passing through the fastening head, the slot having a width not less than the width of the spine and less than the selected distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections, the slot further having a length not less than the distance between the distal ends of each pair of projections such that the slot and the outside surface define a wall encircling the slot,  
       wherein the elongated spine, projections and fastening head are integrally molded from a plastic having a durometer of from 60 to 95.